by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
  Hurley is on the verge of finally getting a new baseball field, and it may finally have a significant infusion of promising young talent to put on it.
  Five freshmen and three sophomores join seven returning lettermen, including five returning fulltime starters for the Rebels, who were close to breaking through in the BDD a couple of years ago and could get close again soon.
  While the youth movement and the new field, which is expected to be ready next spring, offer hope for the future, Josh Childress, Shane Shelton and Kelly Sykes -- and the rapid development of at least a couple of the newcomers -- hold the keys to any success the Rebels have this season.

 “Those guys are my nucleus. They get the clutch hits for us. If some of those freshman can come through for me, we should be all right.”
  Also returning are junior leftfielder Josh Justus and sophomore shortstop Clint Justus. Sophomore second baseman Willie Burks, junior Wesley Meadows, a backup infielder, and senior Robert Burks, who backs up Sykes at first, also have varsity experience.
  The newcomers include freshmen Gary Blankenship, Larry Burks, Ethan Little, Jordan Prater and Justin Vandyke, along with sophomore Nathan Jackson.
  Blankenship will play center field and Larry Burks will open the season at third. Little and Vandyke are outfielders. 

  Sharing is the theme on the 2007 All-BDD girls basketball team.
  Council sophomore Stephanie Cornett and Honaker junior Taylr Perkins share top player honors as Co-Players of the Year in the Black Diamond District.
  Meanwhile, Council coach Dave Rasnake and Honaker coach Nathan Breeding with the Lady Tigers, shared BDD Coach of the Year honors in voting by their peers.
  Cornett averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and three steals per game for the Lady Cobras. Perkins averaged 14.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for the Lady Tigers.
  Honaker, in Breeding’s first year at the helm, won the Black Diamond District regular season title and reached the Region D semifinals. Under Rasnake, Council won the BDD tournament crown and returned to the Region D playoffs with all sophomores and freshmen.
  The first team includes Perkins, sophomore Paige Tiller and Jaimie McGlothlin from Honaker and seniors Samantha Vandyke, Nikki Honaker and Courtney Hagerman from Twin Valley.
  Haysi placed Amber Lane, Jazmine Counts and Keisha Bartley on the first unit. Hurley’s Tara Hall and Celisha Allen also made the first team.
  Three teams placed three players apiece on the 13-player first team. Second-place Council placed two, Cornett and sophomore Haley Arrington.
  Four players received honorable mention, Sarah Justus form Hurley and three Lady Cobras, freshmen Dakota Bostic, Katie Thomas and Allison Presley.

  The Appalachian School of Law will hold the fifth annual ASL Memorial 5K Run/Walk Saturday, March 31.
  The event will host a competitive 5K and a two-mile fitness walk.
  Registration cost for the event is $13 before March 24, or $15 afterwards, including the day of the race.
  Size S-2XL shirts are included in the registration price (children’s sizes available by request only). Trophies will be awarded to the top overall male and female run winners. Medals will be given to the top three finishers in each run category.
  The race is an annual event in memory of Tony Sutin, Tom Blackwell and Angela Dales. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Anthony Sutin and Thomas Blackwell Endowment Scholarship Funds, which benefit the future ASL students in memory of those who died January 16, 2002.
  There will also be “Pasta on the Plaza” on Friday, March 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the school.
  The cost is $3 for Run/Walk participants. ASL students are paid for by the Student Bar Association.
  Family and friends of ASL students are welcome.
  The cost is $5 for non Run/Walk participant adults, and $3 for non-participating children under 6.
  Race shirts